Funded in part by the University of Florida, the Library Services and Technology Assistance granting program of Florida, the State Library and Archives of Florida, and other institutions and individuals.

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of Florida

Holding Location:

University of Florida

Rights Management:

All applicable rights reserved by the source institution and holding location.

Funded in part by the University of Florida, the Library Services and Technology Assistance granting program of Florida, the State Library and Archives of Florida, and other institutions and individuals.

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of Florida

Holding Location:

University of Florida

Rights Management:

All applicable rights reserved by the source institution and holding location.

public schools may close
DETROIT, Mi Detroit Public Schools would close nearly half of its
schools in the next two years, and increase high school class sizes to 62
by the following year, under a deficit-reduction plan filed with the state.
The plan, part of a monthly update Emergency Financial Manager Robert
Bobb gives the Department of Education, was filed provide insight into
Bobb's progress in his attempt to slash a $327 million deficit in the dis-
trict to zero over the next several years. Under it, the district would slim
down from 142 schools now to 72 during 2012-13.
Bobb has said school closures, bigger classes and other measures would
be needed if he cannot get help from lawmakers to restructure finances
in the state's largest school district.
DPS considered but declined to file for bankruptcy in 2009. In the past
year, debt in the district has increased by more than $100 million, brought
on by a mix of revenue declines in property taxes, reduced state aid,
declining enrollment and an unplanned staffing surge this past fall.
The district closed 30 schools this fiscal year, which is expected to save
$23 million. The planned closings in fiscal 2012-14 would save more
than $33 million.

Oldest living African-American
dies in Louisiana at 113
SHREVEPORT, La. -- When she turned 113,
Mississippi Winn could still stand up on her own
and never thought her age was a detriment to her
life. The upbeat former domestic worker from
Shreveport, known in the city as "Sweetie," passed
last week in a nursing home.
Winn was believed to be the oldest living African-
American in the U.S. and the seventh-oldest living
person in the world, said Robert Young of the
Gerontology Research Group, which verifies information for Guinness
World Records. She was living on her own until she was 103.
Young said Winn was one of two known people left in the United States
whose parents both were almost certainly bom into slavery because doc-
uments show they were born before the end of the Civil War, though her
great-niece Mary C. Hollins says Winn never acknowledged that.

NFL's Oakland Raiders promote

Hue Jackson to head coach
Hue Jackson officially began his career as Oakland Raiders head coach
this week vowing to take the team back to the playoffs and beyond.
Jackson was introduced at a news conference this week by owner Al
Davis. He said he picked Jackson to replace Tom Cable because he
proved as offensive coordinator that he could get the Raiders offense into
the end zone.
Oakland finished sixth in the league in scoring with 410 points, more
than doubling their total from 2009. Jackson is the sixth Raiders coach
since 2003. The Raiders have gone eight straight seasons without a win-
ning record in the worst stretch in franchise history.

Washington FBI finds explosive

device near MLK parade route
SPOKANE, Washington An explosive device found inside a backpack
along a downtown Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade route was a credi-
ble threat capable of causing multiple deaths, the FBI said this week
The device was successfully disposed of by the FBI's explosive unit
after the backpack was found on a park bench by a Spokane city employ-
ee about an hour before the parade was set to begin.
FBI agent Roger Harrell said the timing and placement of the device
wasn't coincidental.
"I think the link to the Martin Luther King celebration and march is
inescapable," he said. "Making it domestic terrorism."
The bomb was discovered at 9:25 a.m. in a Swiss Army-brand backpack
that also contained two T-shirts.
Harrell said the people who discovered the backpack and brought it to
the attention of police were the heroes of the day. Police quickly rerout-
ed the parade and called for the bomb disposal unit, he said.

Alpha Phi Alpha to renovate Haitian

school destroyed by earthquake
America's Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity announced it's contribution to
disaster plagued Haiti this week by revealing it plans to renovate one of
Haiti's destroyed schools.
During the fraternity's annual convention, in July, in Las Vegas, dele-
gates adopted a plan to renovate one of the schools in the Croix de bou-
quet area of Haiti. The school is slated to be renamed the Alpha Academy.
"We've had an architect and members of the fraternity pay a visit to the
site and we have schematic designs for the renovation of the school ready
to go," said national President Herma Mason. The renovation is slated to
begin in March, with completion scheduled for midsummer.
In addition to repairs, the fraternity, through contributions to its Alpha
Haiti Relief Fund, is providing furniture and supplies. Along with the
national relief fund, local chapters all across the U.S., in Africa, Europe,
Asia, and the Caribbean are raising funds for the project.
To donate to the fund, visit apal906.net. To see the video of the Haitian
trip, check it out at www.youtube.com/apal906network.

Volume 24 No. 14 Jacksonville, Florida January 20-26, 2011, 2010

Oki T1.

-1 .
,.- I .-

Shown above (L-R) are key organizers James "Cookie" Brown,
Bobby Fennell, Marshall Elliott, Mr. Butter, Nathanial Farley, Sandra
Elps and Lynette Jones of the Jacksonville Free Press.
The "Old Timers", an unofficial but very organized group of friends, held
their annual MLK Old Timers event at Boobie Clark Park on the King
Holiday. Festivities usually include a football game and free barbecue for
youth. Founded by the late Ronald "Track" Elps, the 19th event honored
The Jacksonville Free Press and Shorty Robins of the City of Jacksonville.
Thousands have attended the event held bi-annually and there has never
been a fight or any violence.rKFP Photo

MLK Breakfast honors Willye Dennis

The city's annual MLK breakfast
attended by thousands was keynot-
ed this year by none other than
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton.
Closing in on his eight year reign as
Mayor, Peyton eloquently noted his
evolution and change as the city's
central leader. In his speech he

praised diversity and the need for
education as a catalyst for change.
This year's event paid tribute to
one of the breakfast's founders,
Mrs. Willye Dennis. She is shown
above right with Fire Chief Dr.
Charles Moreland. The event also
honored teen leaders of the future.

I u1lI m Iraggager :Mag ,ag gling"mum ammum e e nter. aJ" r "
Parade goes on rain or shine Despite consistent cold, rainy weather, hundreds of participants turned out for the annual Martin Luther
King, Jr. Parade. The annual event snaked thru downtown Jacksonville with a variety of schools, organizations and clubs being received by the hund-
eds of dedicated onlookers. Shown above are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority umbrellas in hand along the route.
"Dr. King marched in all types of weather so you could sit where you are today," participant Brenda Miller told her grandson who asked if he had
to attend in the rain. "Enduring a few rain drops is the least you could do for that privilege," she said.
For more sights and scenes from the parade, see page 2. FMIPPhoto

King's peace legacy praised after Ariz. shootings

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth-
day was observed around the nation
on Monday with thousands volun-
teering for service projects and
more reflecting on his lessons of
nonviolence and civility in the
week following the shootings in
Arizona.
Six people were killed in Tucson
and Democratic Congresswoman
Gabrielle Giffords is recovering
from life threatening wounds. The
violent outburst was a reminder to
many who gathered at King's for-
mer church in Atlanta that the
Baptist preacher's message
remained relevant nearly four
decades after his own untimely
death at the hands of an assassin.
Attorney General Eric Holder
praised him as "our nation's greatest

drum major of peace" and said the
Jan. 8 bloodshed was a call to
recommit to King's values of nonvi-
olence, tolerance, compassion and
justice.
"Last week a senseless rampage
in Tucson reminded us that more
than 40 years after Dr. King's own
tragic death, our struggle to eradi-
cate violence and to promote peace
goes on," Holder said.
President Barack Obama and first
lady Michelle volunteered to paint
for a service project at a middle
school in Washington's Capitol Hill.
He urged Americans to get out into
their communities a step he sug-
gested would have special meaning
following the shootings.
"After a painful week where so
many of us were focused on the

tragedy, it's good for us to remind
ourselves of what this country is all
about," he said.
National and local politicians
joined members of the King family
at Ebenezer Baptist Church in
Atlanta to mark what would have
been the civil rights icon's 82nd
birthday. Members of the King fam-
ily also laid a wreath at the tombs of
King and his widow, Coretta Scott
King, on the 25th anniversary of the
federal holiday established to honor
the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The largely African American
audience of about 2,000 gathered at
Ebenezer where King preached
from 1960 until his death in 1968
- included parents and children,
members of the clergy, politicians
and footsoldiers of the civil rights

movement.
Two of the Kings' four children,
Martin Luther King III and the Rev.
Bernice King attended Monday's
ceremony. Their brother, Dexter
King, was unable to attend the serv-
ice because he is recovering from
injuries he received in a car crash
last year. Yolanda King, the eldest
of the King siblings, died in 2007.
Bernice King is also president-elect
of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, which her
father co-founded in 1957.
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who
worked with King during the civil
rights movement, issued a renewed
call for Americans to unite in peace
and love as King preached during
his lifetime.
Continued on back page.

Women Weight & Why (WWW),
has been around since 2005, giving
back to the community through out-
reach initiatives and supporting per-
sonal and professional enrichment.
This is the second year the mem-
bers of WWW and guests have
gathered together in January to kick
off the New Year. The event was
held on Saturday, January 15th at
the residence of Veronica
Campbell, Founder of WWW.
The evening was filled with delec-
table food, fun games, gift
exchanges and their new tradition,
the "birthday cupcake" contest.
Ju'Coby Pittman-Peele, CEO of
Clara White Mission was present
again this year and participated in a
painting and poetry activity. Traci
Mims-Jones, Artist, painted to the
theme "Phenomenal Woman" by
Maya Angelou. Traci's work has
been displayed several times at The
Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum
and she is working on another col-
lection for the Through Our Eyes
exhibit.

The Old Timers committee includes (shown above) Shawn Taylor, Walter Guice, Carlton Smith,
Nathaniel Farley, Coach Al Burden, Mathis Daniels, James "Cookie" Brown, Marvin Roach, Lawrence
Brown, Chef Robert Cole, Victor Robinson and Aaron Finn who carry on the tradition of founder Ron
Elps. They are shown above at the presentation table with awards for service to the community. R. Silverphoto

Cupcake contest winners (1-r) Vanessa Collins, Carolene Greenaway,
Chrishinda Dempsey and April Griffin.
Veronica Campbell, Founder of world. The new and improved
Women Weight & Why, will soon name will still carry the trademark
be transitioning to a new non-profit (WWW) but will reflect World
organization designed to help Wide Women.
women and children all over the

,-! j ,b7 p
T' 7., A
7 IN

Marion Dunbar and Mitchell Morgan

Since 1992, the Old Timers have
been gathering in northside parks to
feed the soul and the spirit. This
past King holiday, they continued
the tradition in honor of their
founder Ronald "Track" Elps at
Boobie Clark Park.
Their histories range from retired
professional athletes to educators
and longshoreman, but they all

share the same bond of friendship.
Once a year they show off their
prowess with a flag football game
showing that they still "got it"
against the younger generation.
Today their events are known to
draw thousands and include
campers and grills with kids galore.
All come to meet and greet and
have a good time with former class-

mates of Stanton and Gilbert in the
spirit of unity. Past events have also
included toys for kids, tournaments,
school supplies, food baskets and
always free kids for children.They
also present community service
awards to worthy honorees.
The Old Timers look forward to
continuing sharing their legacy as a
part of Jacksonville's landscape.

while in office. During his speech
he even acknowledge that it was
somewhat awkward for him to be
speaking at the MLK breakfast.
He said, "I also want to thank
Isaiah Rumlin and Richard
Danford for inviting me to speak to
you today. I am truly honored but, I
must admit, also a bit surprised."
I am reminded of one of my
favorite Malcolm X quotes, he said,
"Don't be in a hurry to condemn
because he doesn't do what you do
or think as you think or as fast.
There was a time when you didn't
know what you know today."
What Malcolm was talking about
is exposure. Exposure and a will-
ingness to learn help you gain an
understanding of the plight of oth-
ers.
"Now for you and I in this room,
there is no bigger issue. Clearly, the
widening of
our disparity gap is the single
greatest threat to our community,
said the Mayor. "
He added, "We are not moving
quickly enough to achieve the aspi-
rational goals of Dr. King. We must
do more."
Hats off to Mayor Peyton for a
great speech and showing the com-
passion that's needed to help
change our community.
Why Repealing the Health
Care Bill is a bad idea

Last Friday, I sat at the annual
Martin Luther King breakfast and
heard Mayor John Peyton deliver a
message that was somewhat out of
character. Peyton who is usually
pretty calm and reserved, gave an
emotional speech that touch the
hearts of many in the audience.
You have to know that history to
understand the magnitude of what
Peyton actually said. Let's rewind
the clock back to some eight years
ago when Peyton was running
against Nat Glover, the city's first
black sheriff and first black sheriff
elected in the South.
Peyton got the endorsement of
the Firemen union and promised
that he would get rid of the black
fire chief because some of the
"boys" didn't like him. He also ran
on dismantling the minority busi-
ness program. So many African
Americans saw Peyton as being
insensitive and a part of the Good
01 Boys Club.
Now back to reality and Peyton
has had a roller coaster ride while
in office these past two terms. He's
had many successes and faced
more challenges than many of his
predecessors had to deal with.
I have been most impressed by
Peyton and his Jacksonville
Journey and Early Learning initia-
tives.
It's clear that Peyton has grown

Bad Idea
Now that Republicans control the
US House of Representatives, the
big talk is about repealing the
Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act or as Conservatives like to
call it "Obamacare."
Of course Republicans in the
Florida House of Representatives
also have a majority well, actual-
ly a super majority, and have also
talking health care repeal.
It's so easy to say no to every-
thing versus actually trying to find
solutions. My biggest concern with
the notion of repealing the health
care bill is that how do we tell
Floridians who are already strug-
gling that the coverage you thought
you would have never mind it's
too political so you are back to
being uninsured.
So here's my issue with the
notion of a repeal. Before we repeal
let's see if the plan will actually
work. The other option is to amend
don't end. I realize that many of
the components of the bill maybe
controversial to some, but there are
parts of the legislation that no one
can argue about.
If the health care plan is repealed
then here are some of the compo-
nents that would directly hurt fam-
ilies: Under the plan, 86,300 young
adults (26 and under) in Florida
alone now have insurance coverage
through their parents' health plans.

Cheney's Obama-One-Term-Presidency Delusion

by E.O. Hutchinson
Former Vice President Dick
Cheney sounded more like a man
trying to convince himself than
anybody else when he told NBC
News that President Obama will be
a one term president. To convince
himself this very unconvincing bit
of GOP orthodoxy will hold water,
Cheney ticked off the by now
familiar checklist of Obama's sup-
posed weaknesses. They include
his health care reform package, big
government spending, and stifling
of the private sector. A month ago,
Cheney's list of alleged Obama's
failings might have had some pub-
lic ring to them. They have been
repeated long and loud enough by
GOP leaders, and polls showed that
a big percent of Americans had the
same criticisms of Obama.
That has changed. Obama moved
quickly to shore up ties with busi-
ness with a series of well timed and
publicized meetings and assurances
that stirring private sector job
growth and budget deficit reducing
initiatives was the administration's
number one priority. He agreed to a
corporate friendly tax cut, and
watched as polls showed that a
majority of Americans do not want
the health care repealed.
Cheney got the message that
Obama's popularity and approval
has jumped, and in the wake of his
handling of the Tucson massacre,
this has made for the moment made
even some in the GOP including
Cheney grudgingly give Obama
high marks. But that's not enough
to kill Cheney's delusion that
Obama is as good as toast when it
comes to winning another term.
Cheney and other GOP leaders
have little choice but to paint
Obama as a liberal, big spending,

expansive government Democrat.
This is the tag on Democrats that
has worked political miracles for
GOP presidential contenders and
presidents for the better part of the
past three decades.
Reagan masterfully crafted the
"get government off your back"
line into a solid Republican selling
point. He targeted the remnants of
the Great Society programs. He
crippled funding and further eroded
public enthusiasm for social spend-
ing. Conservatives took the cue and
painted the government as pro-
higher taxes, pro-bureaucracy, pro-
immigrant and especially pro-wel-
fare and pro-rights of criminals.
The Republicans' repeated smear of
the Democrats as tax and spend,
liberal, big government proponents
has struck and still does strike a
chord with many.
The pack of rightwing talk show
hosts, ultra conservative bloggers
and websites, and Tea Party leaders
and activists will hammer away on
the theme that Obama may make
nice with business, talk about cut-
ting the deficit, and compromise on
tax cuts, but this is just a ploy to
placate and even deceive Obama
critics and opponents into thinking
that he has somehow seen the con-
servative light and has abandoned
his liberal, anti-corporate, expand
the welfare state goal. Cheney
essentially played on that theme in
his politically laced one term presi-
dency prediction.
But Cheney and other GOP lead-
ers would have continued to harp
on that no matter how many GOP
friendly compromises Obama
made or will make. The one term
presidency line would be repeated-
ly bandied about no matter what
Democrat sat in the Oval Office.

Obama was deemed especially ripe
for the GOP pickings because he
was African-American, and at least
in the early going of his administra-
tion, the GOP prayer was that he
would say and do something that
would fan the racial fires, and give
the GOP the chance to fully play
the race card, and paint him as a
closet racial panderer. The next
best thing to that was the tag of
closet Marxist and communist.
This ploy has largely petered out.
But the one term line will stay
because it has to.
Cheney's war on Obama is about
the GOP regaining power, control,
political dominance, protecting its
corporate and financial interests, its
strict construction definition and
enforcement of the laws, and more
broadly the imposing of its philos-
ophy of how government should be
run. The presidency is the grand
prize that pulls the political, eco-
nomic and philosophical threads on
how government and power will be
exercised together for the GOP. It's
not enough for the GOP to win big
in the House and gain valuable
ground in the Senate as the party
did during the November mid-
terms. Senate Democrats will still
largely march to the president's
tune and will stymie any of the
wilder, way out initiatives and
pieces of legislation that the Tea
Party influenced House will pass to
thumb its nose at, embarrass and
weaken the Obama administration.
President Obama also has two
big weapons to bolster his adminis-
tration and re-election chances.
That's the power of the veto which
president's use strategically and
effectively against the other party.
The other big weapon is the power
of the bully pulpit to shape and

mold public opinion, and even turn
a crisis into a triumph. Obama's
deft use of that to drive home the
message of tolerance, unity and
civility was on full display in his
Tucson speech and appearance.
Obama as other presidents before
him will continue to hear the polit-
ically charged three words, "one-
term president" said about him by
the GOP attack machine in the run-
up to the 2012 presidential elec-
tions. It comes with the political
turf. Cheney knows that, but that
doesn't make it happening any less
of a delusion.

Prior to the bill, the cut off age was
22.
According to the White House,
"More than 8.7 million residents of
Florida with private insurance cov-
erage would suddenly find them-
selves vulnerable again to having
lifetime limits placed on how much
insurance companies will spend on
their health care."
And many of us have had to deal
with insurance companies cutting
our coverage because we have had
too many accidents or too many
claims. Well, the bill passed last
March made it illegal for Insurance
companies to practice those poli-
cies against consumers.
This component of the legislation
helps nearly 1.1 million people in
Florida alone at risk of losing their
insurance at the moment they need
it most, according to the White
House.
If repealed then insurance plans
would no longer be required to
cover recommended preventive
services, like mammograms and flu
shots, without cost sharing, nor
would they have to guarantee
enrollees the right to choose any
available primary care provider in
the network or see an OB-GYN
without a referral.
These are just a few of the rea-
sons why we need to give the
Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act time to be fully imple-
mented and then evaluated.
Signing off from my Doctor's
Office
Reggie Fullwood

DISCLAIMER
The United State provides oppor-
tunities for free expression of ideas.
The Jacksonville Free Press has its
view, but others may differ.
Therefore, the Free Press ownership
reserves the right to publish views
and opinions by syndicated and
local columnist, professional writers
and other writers' which are solely
their own. Those views do not neces-
sarily reflect the policies and posi-
tions of the staff and management of
the Jacksonville Free Press.
Readers, are encouraged to write
letters to the editor commenting on
current events as well as what they
wouldlike to see included in the
paper. All letters must be type writ-
ten and signed and include a tele-
phone number and address. Please
address letters to the Editor, c/o
JFP, P.O. Box 43580 Jacksonville,
FL 32203. (No CALLS PLEASE)

Black Holiday?
Question: How much does it cost the federal gov-
ernment for a holiday? Answer: It is estimated that
every federal holiday costs taxpayers about half a bil-
lion dollars in wages paid to the country's 3 million
federal employees. There are 10 annual federal holidays. On a federal hol-
iday non-essential federal government offices are closed. All federal
employees are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the
holiday sometimes receive holiday pay in addition to their ordinary wages.
In 1983, the Senate and House of Representatives voted that beginning
in 1986 the third Monday of January become a national holiday commem-
orating the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The idea of Martin
Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions in contract
negotiations. After King's death, Detroit Congressman John Conyers intro-
duced a bill in Congress to make King's birthday a national holiday. Two
of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday
for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor
a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition because King
never held public office. Led by Coretta Scott-King the MLK Center
sought support from the general public and corporate community and ini-
tiated the largest petition drive in favor of an issue in U.S. history. They
collected six million signatures and the impetus for Congress to pass the
law.
Now three decades after congressional passage of the MLJ Holiday, a
new movement: "The Campaign to Establish Juneteenth as a National
Holiday Observance" is lobbying for legislation to commemorate
Juneteenth National Freedom Day, officially marking the "19th of June" as
America's 11th annual holiday and "2nd Independence Day". In a letter to
Speaker of the House John Boehner, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr. said that in
the reading of the U.S. Constitution to open the 112th Congress "omission
of the reading of the three-fifths clause leaves open the question of the
importance of slavery and the significance Americans of African descent
played in the building of America." Myers wants recent and long-time
omissions of debts due descendents of slaves be corrected by the Congress.
Juneteenth is also known as Freedom or Emancipation Day and is
already a holiday that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of
slavery in the State of Texas in 1865. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a
portmanteau of June and nineteenth, is recognized as a holiday in 36 states.
It was on June 19th, 1865 that Union soldiers, landed at Galveston, Texas
with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.
This was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation which had become official January 1, 1863. The
Emancipation Proclamation had little impact in Texas due to the minimal
number of Union troops to enforce the Executive Order. However, with the
surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General
Granger's regiment forces were finally strong enough to influence and
overcome the resistance.
In his letter to Boehner, Myers points out that the Capitol and White
House were built through uncompensated slave labor, but compared to the
political influence and petition gathering prowess of Coretta Scott King,
Reverend Doctor Ronald V. Myers is a one-man band. Like the backing
the MLK people had from labor unions, Myers & Co. will need to show
how to make the holiday pay for itself. Local "improvement associations"
could come together with businesses in hospitality and entertainment
industries to make lucrative events happen among "the grassroots" from
neighborhoods, to churches, to shopping and community centers and
beyond. Local people can design ways to make family fare holiday events
that includes special shows, outdoor concerts and food events.
The idea of Juneteenth as a national holiday is growing and the number
of cities and states creating Juneteenth committees are increasing. To sup-
port the project, call Dr. Myers at 662-247-3364, or 662-247-1471; e-mail:
JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com, web sites: www.Juneteenth.us,
www.njclc.com, www.19thofJune.com and www.JuneteenthJazz.com.

J2Iar 21ss

L, P'~ a

7

*
44

4F

. -, ..

I "t

~ I

4 1

4

aw0*"4

He dreamed bi

I could dream even

Happy Birthday

WinnI/Dixie
Fresh Checked Every Day.

so

bigger .

Ms. Perry's Free Press Page 5

January 20-26 2011

~ t '(
r

rD~
'qj;

g-

Page 6 Ms. Perry's Free Press January 20-26, 2011

El Beth-el Come Together Day African Brunch at Mt. Lebanon
Homegoing services set

The pastor officers and members of the Greater El Beth-el Divine Holiness
Church invite the community to worship for their Come Together Day
Celebration January 23rd at 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be Attorney Seth
Rothstein. There will also be several civic and political leaders to share and
bring greetings. For more information call 710-1586. Dinner will be served
after service.

New Year Revival at Greater Grant

Memorial AME begins January 20th
Reclaim and restore in 2011 at the New Year Revival hosted by Greater
Grant Memorial AME Church on Thursday and Friday, January 20th 21st,
with the anointed Reverend Marcius O. King as the revivalist. Services
begin 7:00 pm nightly. Come experience electrifying preaching and gospel
music at its finest while your soul is revived. The church is located at 5533
Gilchrist Road (Sibbald @ Gilchrist); Reverend F.D. Richardson, Jr. is the
pastor. Call (904) 764-5992 for more information.

Black History Month

Poetry contest for Youth
The Jacksonville African American Genealogy Society will present it
Fifth Annual Black History Month Poetry Competition for elementary-
high school students. The theme for the contest is "Remembering the Past
for Future Generation Longevity".
All entries submitted must be original and include the student's name
birthdate, address, grade, school, homeroom teacher, and parental permis-
sion to participate. Submitted poems will become the property of JAAGS
and emailed / postmarked before 12:00 AM February 20. 2011. Entries
should be mailed to JAAGS 3730 Soutel Drive #2201, Jacksonville, FL
32208 or emailed to flossyl4@aol.com. Cash prizes will be awarded to
winners in addition to a 1 year family membership to all participants.

Refreshing Women Push TV Ministry
Refreshing Women is looking for Christian Talent, soloist, speakers,
praise dancers and poem readers for a free service that is free to the pub-
lic. The show will be air Saturday mornings at 8A.M. on Comcast 29.
Any Pastor wishing to come on the show in the near future are welcome,
and can have their church name and worship service added to the
Community Shout or Roll, by sending their, church name, address and time
of service to P.O. Box 350117 Jacksonville, Fl. 32235-0117. For more
information, call Rev. Mattie W. Freeman at 220-6400 or email CFIGC-
PUSH TV@Yahoo.com

Speaker for St Paul AME Revival
Dr. Jamal Harrison-Bryant, Pastor and founded of The Empowerment
Temple Baltimore, MD will be the guest revivalist for St. Paul's Fresh Start
Commitment Worship and Revival Service. This special Worship will take
place on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 7 p.m. Dr. Marvin C. Zanders II
and the Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church Family extend a
warm welcome to surrounding communities, churches and public to share
in what promises to be a life changing experience. St. Paul is located at
6910 New Kings Rd. Contact the church office at (904) 645-0634 for addi-
tional information. Website: www.stpaulamejax.com.

Greater New Mount Moriah to hold M

special worship services in song
Greater New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1953
W. 9th Street, led by Pastor Percy Jackson, Sr., invites all to join them
January 23rd at 6 p.m. as they praise God in song. Featured guests will be
The Anointed Sisters of Praise, The Men of Praise and The Scott Family
Gospel Singers. For more information, call (904) 475-0141 or 401-9003.

27th Women in Christ Luncheon
Prime Osborne Convention Center will be the sight of the 27th Women
in Christ Luncheon on Tuesday February 8, 2011, 11:30 a.m.- 1p.m. Last
year over 2,000 women attend) This year's featured speaker is Dee Brestin
a nationally ad internationally recognized author/speaker. Dee has spent the
past 25 years writing, speaking, encouraging and challenging women of all
ages, from all stages of life how to discover a life-changing intimacy with
Jesus. Her book, Friendships of Women has sold millions. Dee brings to life
the truth of God Word through her use of real-life stories, humor, and clips
from classic musicals. It is often said Dee keeps our attention-and helps us
see the truth of Scripture as well as hear it. Dee began connecting with
women with her classic, The Friendships of Women, and continues under-
standing the needs of mothers, singles, and widows. For reservations, go to
www.jaxwomenforchrist.org,.

for Mr. Freddie Gardner

In 1954, he married Ruth Jackson,
a union that lasted over 56 years and
produced three children. In addition
to building the home his family
resided, Mr. Gardner built a strong
spiritual foundation as evidenced by
his 64-year membership at Bethel
Baptist Institutional Church, where
he served as a Deacon.
Deacon Gardner is survived by
his wife, Ruth; children, Freddie
Bruce Gardner, Mildred Lynn
S Fields and Marsha Ruth Oliver;
i grandchild, Joel Gardner Oliver;
/: ''. sisters Altemese Gardner and
S. Hortense Lundy; god-daughter,
e Gardner Angie Dixon; several nieces and
a man of great nephews; and a number of special
May 16, 1928 in childhood friends including
[is heart of love Rudolph McKissick, Sr. and
d on January 15, Clarence Belton. In addition to his
lengthy illness. parents, he is predeceased by his
Sborn to the late brother, Isreal Gardner.

Freddie Gardner,
valor, was bor on I
Jacksonville, Fla. H
and courage stopped
2011, following a
One of four children

Isreal "Dan" and Fannie Gardner,
Mr. Gardner received his education
at LaVilla and Old Stanton High
School. At a young age, he under-
stood the importance of building
values based on hard work, dili-
gence and responsibility.
Throughout his years, Mr. Gardner
led a variety of masonry projects
producing numerous buildings,
swimming pools, monuments and
homes throughout northeast
Florida. He retired from Florida
Wilbert, Inc. in 1994 after 27 years
of service, earning commendations
for his dedication, initiative, and
quality work ethic.

Funeral services for Deacon
Gardner will be held on Saturday,
January 22, 2011 at
11 a.m. at Bethel Baptist
Institutional Church, 215 Bethel
Baptist St., Bishops Rudolph
McKissick, Sr. and Jr., presiding.
The Gardner family will receive
friends during visitation at Bethel
Baptist Institutional Church on
Friday, January 21st at 5 p.m. Public
viewing will be held from 5 to 7
p.m. at Bethel. Entombment will
follow services at Edgewood
Cemetery, 4519 Edgewood Dr.
Visit www.tswarden.com to share
your condolences.

**FREE TUTORING FOR YOUTH IN ENGLISH, SCIENCE,
HISTORY AND MATH EVERY TUESDAY 6:30 8 P.M.

which you were created, perhaps
^you might be able to shake free
from all those little things tying you
down.
I think of the main character from
Gulliver's Travels. He finds himself
immobilized by hundreds of tiny
people called Lilliputians. He wakes
up bound and paralyzed by a myriad
of little ropes anchoring him to the
OP ground. No matter how small,
enough little hindrances will keep
you from maximizing your poten-
tial-or worse, paralyzed!
What are the little things keeping
you bound up and going nowhere?
Take a good look. Is your life out of
by Dr Cindy Trimm balance? Are you getting enough
You are a divine masterpeice-a rest? How about exercise? Are you
miracle in motion, nourishing your spirit as well as
Your authentic, divine self was your body-or vice versa? Are you
made in God's own image. If you doing as much for yourself as you
could comprehend the love and do for others-how about the other
intention with which God formed way around
you-grasp the magnificence and The greatest success is founded
majesty of your being-fully on the smallest things. Your success
embrace the power and beauty with is a sum total of tiny decisions,

fleeting thoughts, whispered words,
and even silent prayers. I challenge
you to start small this year in order
to end big. Take a little time to eval-
uate your habits, attitudes, thought
patterns, and daily decisions about
how you manage yourself.
Are you living with integrity and
being true to who God created you
to be?
Check your heart. Take an inven-
tory of what you are carrying with
you into the New Year.
I encourage you to leave every-
thing behind that does not belong to
your divine, authentic, God-made
self. Go into the New Year free of
debt, offenses, extra weight or bag-
gage of any kind.
As Isaiah said, "forget all that-it
is nothing compared to what I am
going to do. For I am about to do
something new. See, I have already
begun! Do you not see it? I will
make a pathway through the wilder-
ness. I will create rivers in the dry
wasteland" (Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT).

by R.K. Byers
It should come as no surprise that
a population that treats the Earth as
bad as it does seems so overwhelm-
ingly misogynistic in general.
America has historically treated
white women as 2nd class citizens,
so with the race/gender dynamic
causing Black men to come in 3rd
class, the Black woman has histori-
cally ended up on the bottom of the
pile.
Now, if we're to believe (and
'believe' is the key word) some of
the data about the condition of
Black women that has been coming
out recently, we'd have to wonder
why anybody even bothers with
them.
One report says that by 2034,
100% of Black women will be
overweight.
Another report says that a single
Black woman's median wealth
amounts to a total of $5.
A third report says that 48% of
Black women have the virus which
causes herpes.
Black women are, in no fancy
language, fat, broke and disease
infected. They're also Black so
they're clearly stupid.
It's as if there's a psychological
WOMEN OF COLOR

Heart of a
Women Luncheon
The 7th Annual Heart of a
Woman Luncheon presented by the
Women of Color Cultural
Foundation, Inc. will be held on
Saturday, February 5, 2011 from 11
a.m. 1 p.m.
Scholarships

available
The 2011 Universal Teen
Scholarship Program is seeking
both male and female high school
students to compete for scholarship
money. The Women of Color
Cultural Foundation, Inc. will
award a total of $10,000 in scholar-
ship funds. Orientation is on
Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 2
p.m. at See high school counselors
for an application or complete an
application at orientation.
Both events will be held at WJCT
Public Television Station, 100
Festival Park Avenue.
To be mailed an application or
more information about either
activity, contact Dr. Helen Jackson
at (904) 683-1757 or via mail at
helen.j ackson4@comcast.net.

terror campaign aimed directly at
Black women. And as anyone
knows, the first goal of terrorism is
to cause true believers to lose faith.
Now, if you're a Black woman,
the most rational thing to do would
seemingly be to realize that 'scien-
tific studies' have manipulated data
for years towards the scientists'
own ends. As recently as the late
1800s, scientific racism was used to
suggest that Blacks were intellectu-
ally inferior to whites specifically
because our faces were thought to
slant at an 80 degree angle.
It might also be healthy to
remember that normally, it's the kid
with the most potential that gets
teased and lied about the most
severely by children of far less tal-
ent and beauty.
What would be dangerous, reck-
less and insane would be for Black
men to use any or all of this 'infor-
mation' as justification for distanc-
ing themselves from the Black
woman.
If the condition of Black women
was truly as dire as all this 'evi-
dence' seems to suggest, there is no
way that a Black woman could pro-
duce a child of either gender that
would be of any worth.
It is a good thing that we have the
wherewithall to live our own lives,
despite the odds. Black women
make it happen for ourselves and
our families by any means neces-
sary.

MEMPHIS, Tn. What in the
world is going on at Frayser
Middle/High School in Memphis,
Tenn.? It seems as if female stu-
dens there are more interested in
carrying babies than backpacks.
There are a reported 90 teens who
are pregnant now or who have had
a baby this school year. Eleven per-
cent of the school's female popula-
tion is already in the throes of par-
enthood.
Now an all-out campaign is being
launched to deter teen pregnancy at
the school.
Teen pregnancy is a big problem
in Memphis and Shelby County,
where the population is predomi-
nantly black and poor.
Sixteen-year-old Terrika Sutton is
one of the Frayser students who
became pregnant. Sutton, who has
a 2-month-old daughter, says she
was in her fifth month when she
found out she was expecting a
child. The teen mom surprised her
parents and classmates alike when
she broke the news to them about
her situation:
"They were like, 'Terrika, I never
knew you would get pregnant,' and
I was like well it happened."
The young mother goes onto say,
though, that teen pregnancy is
nothing to be proud of and that
something should be done:
"It's a shame that all these girls at

Frayser are pregnant, but it ain't
nothing new. They probably
planned on what they gonna do to
get pregnant. Ain't no telling. They
need a class where they can teach
girls before they get pregnant to
use protection and stuff and so they
don't try to get pregnant."
Until now,
there has been
very little data
collected on
the number of

dents.
Last year,
more than
2,100 girls
ages 10 to 19 r-\
gave birth in
She 1 by
County.
Researchers Teen momTi
Teen momTl
say Shelby
County's teen pregnancy rate is 25
percent higher than New Orleans
and twice that of Louisville, Ky.
Frayser, though, has the highest
teen-pregnancy rate in all of
Memphis.
A Title 1 school, Frayser receives
federal dollars based on the num-
ber of students from low-income
families who qualify for free or
reduced lunch. Nearly 100 percent
of the students who attend the
school qualify.

Educators and researchers have
come up with a new campaign that
has been designed to help teens
prevent pregnancy called "No
Baby!"
Memphis City School officials
will set the initiative in motion on
Jan. 20. The campaign will be run
by Girls Inc.,
an organiza-
tion that's been

Memphis
improve their
self-esteem for
the past sever-
al decades.
The "No
Baby!" all-out
t^^ massive effort
to stomp out
^ teen pregnancy
rika Sutton will hopefully
kaget the me-Sutton
get the mes-

relations.
The war against teenage preg-
nancy is also being infused with
$250,000 in advertising that will
saturate all forms of social media
forums such as Twitter and
Facebook, as well as using other
mediums, such as texts, radio, bill-
boards and television.
The advertising campaign's roll-
out will begin with Frayser, but it
will expand to include other
schools in Memphis where the teen
pregnancy problem is rampant. In
10 Memphis zip codes, at least 20
percent of teens have a baby, which
is more than double the national
average.
Teen pregnancy is a serious issue
that demands our attention.
Teen parents are almost always
unprepared for the challenges of
parenthood and often drop out of
school, take low-paying jobs and

sage across to
teens to say Duval county has held an evolving approach
no to having to pregnant teens, in the 60s they were
sex and hav- expelled, 70s and 80s sen to to Darnell
ing babies. Cookman. The 90s opened the Beaulah Beale
"No Baby!"
will only Teen Parent Center. Now they are welcome to
encourage stay in the classroom at their homeschooL
abstinence
and not provide contraceptives but never complete their education.
will give teens the proper tools on Children born to teen moms are
how to protect themselves should often sicker, poorer and less edu-
they decide to engage in sexual cated as a group.

NW .'
MINNESOTA Stephanie
Moreland (pictured) was arrested
earlier this month by Bloomington
Police, after a local furrier reported

a short mink coat was stolen by a
woman. Employees at the Alaskan
Fur Company confronted
Moreland, after noticing her suspi-
cious behavior in the store.
One of the sales associates,
Simona Storchak, noticed that a
$6,500 coat was missing, and she
confronted Moreland about it.
Storchak said Moreland denied
having the coat and took off.
The employee wrote down the
license plate on the woman's car
and called police. When officers
located Moreland's car a short time
later, they found a hanger from the
store, but no coat. After being
searched for weapons, she was
booked in to a Bloomington County

The Jacksonville Free Press

would love to share your

event with our readers.

We do have a few guidelines

that need to be followed
1. All unsolicited photos require a $10 photo charge for each
picture. Photos can be paid by check, money order or credit
card,
2. Pictures must be brought into our office to be examined
for quality or emailed in a digital format of .jpg or .bmp.
3. Everyone in the picture must be named.
4. All photos MUST be received within 5 days of the event.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
5. Event photos must be accompanied by a story/event synop-
sis including the 5W's of media: who, what, when, where and
why. in addition to a phone number for more information.

Call 634-1993 for

more information!

jail on theft charges.
Three days later, a detective inter-
viewed Moreland who admitted she
stole the coat but claimed she had
already sold it. With a little more
prodding, and the threat of being
transferred to a downtown jail,
though, the suspect pulled out her
trump card from her underwear.
The officer wrote in his report,
"She had modified her underwear.

She actually cut the rear of the
underwear out so that from the back
it appeared she was not wearing
underwear and then stuffed it down
the front," said Bloomington Police
Commander Mark Stehlik.
Stehlik said the suspect, who is 46
years old, weighs about 270
pounds, which helped make it easi-
er for her to conceal the short jack-
et.

What to do from social, volunteer, political and sports activities to self enrichment and the civic scene

Ringling Bro. Circus
The annual Ringling Brothers and
Barnum and Bailey Circus will be
at the Veterans Memorial Arena
January 20-23. For tickets and
showtimes, call 355-2787.

Drum Line Live
Come experience a professional
drum line live at the Times Union
Center for Performing Arts. The
one time performance will be held
on Saturday, January 22nd. Call
632-3015 for tickets or more infor-
mation.

Learn to grow
vegetables from seeds
There will be a class that will
teach you how to grow vegetables
from seeds on Saturday, January
22nd from 10:00 AM Noon.
Participants will learn how to start
their own vegetable garden by plan-
ning seeds. They will take home
their own planted seed tray. The
cost for the class is $15. The class
will be at the Duval County
Extension Office, 1010 N McDuff
Ave. Pre-registration is required.
Call Jeannie at 904-387-8850.

African Folk Tales in
symphony at TUCPA
The Twins and the Monster will
be featured by the Jacksonville
Symphony Orchestra at the Times
Union Center on January 23, 2011
at 3 p.m. The story evolves around
young twins Azizi and Aziza who
work together to outwit a gruesome

monster and bring peace to their vil-
lage. Based on a traditional African
folk tale, the young audience is
swept away to a faraway land of
dark forests, vast plains and spooky
swamps. The rhythms of Africa,
powerful music, beautifully carved
masks, singing and movement cre-
ate an exotic atmosphere and tell a
thrilling tale of family unity and
courage. Call 354-5547 for tickets.

Learn to make rum
The perfect date night or answer
to curious knowledge will be fund
at the Museum of Science and
History on January 27th from 6- 8
p.m.. Bacardi's sensory science
team will be onhand to teach the
science behind making rum.
Bacardi's Senior Beverage Scientist
will give an introduction to Sensory
Science and will lead a hands-on,
rum-based sensory activity from 6
to 8 p.m. You must be 21 years of
age or older to participate. Call
396.MOSH (6674), ext. 230 to reg-
ister. Space is limited.

Best of Jacksonville:
A MOCA benefit
What has been described as
Jacksonville's best party is coming
soon! The Jacksonville Museum of
Contemporary Art's 8th annual ben-
efit features good times with fun
people, catchy music, delicious
drinks, great food and exciting
prizes.It will be held on January
27th at 7 p.m. at the museum locat-
ed at 333 N. Laura Street. For more
information, call 366-9911.

Open dialogue on
Jax race relations
E3 Business group will present
"Real Talk Real Change Are you
living color?" The open forum is a
dialogue on the state of racism and
prejudice in NE Florida. Expert
panelists will discuss workplace
prejudice, racism, class and "pimp-
ing your pedigree". It will be held
Thursday, January 27th from 6 -
8:30 p.m. at the Main Library The
forum is free and open to the public.
Call 888-525-2299 xll7for info.

Free seminar
for teachers
The National Sorority of Phi
Delta Kappa Sorority, Inc.- Delta
Delta Chapter, will present
"Thinking Outside of the Box:
Innovative Strategies for the 21st
Century Learner." The seminar is
for all educational professionals. It
will be held at the University of
Phoenix, North Florida Campus,
4500 Salisbury Road Jacksonville,
Florida 32216. The session will
start at 8 a.m. 1 p.m. on Saturday,
January 29th. For more informa-
tion, call Ms. Highsmith at 355-
9953. You can also RSVP via e-
mail to pattersons@duvalschools.org
(Master Plan Points).

Council candidates. Participants
will have a one on one opportunity
to ask candidates..."Why You?" all
while you enjoy dinner with other
Forward members. There are only
64 seats total for this event. It will
be held from 5:30 8:30 p.m. at
City Hall on the first floor in the
Lynwood Roberts Room, 117 W.
Duval St. RSVP@jcci.org (Subject
line: JaxFacts).

PRIDE Book Club
The February meeting of the
PRIDE Book Club, northeast
Florida's largest and oldest book
club of color, will be held Saturday,
February 5th at 3:00 PM. The
meeting will be held at the Main
Library downtown on the 4th Floor.
For more information, call Pat
Morisson at 630-2665. The book
for discussion is Noble Hand Up by
Nicholas Washington.

Triple Threat Tour
The Triple Threat tour featuring
feat. Tank, Chrisette Michelle &
Marsha Ambrosius will be in
Jacksonville on Friday, January
28th at 7:30 p.m. at the Times
Union Center. contact Ticketmaster
for more information.

Gilbert Jr/Sr. Reunion
The 13th Annual Alumni Reunion
to be held January 28 & 29 at the
Hyatt River walk Hotel. Festivities
include a welcome reception and
banquet on Saturday, starting at 6
p.m. The Class of 1961 will be hon-
ored. Tickets are on sale now, No

tickets sold at the door. For more
information contact class leaders or
Linda Jackson-Bell at 713-0973.

Zora Neale Hurston
Festival Bus Trip
On January 29, 2011, the Clara
White Mission will sponsor a bus
trip to the Zora Neale Hurston
Festival in Orlando, FL. The bus
will leave the Clara White Mission
at 8:30 a.m. and depart Orlando at
7:30 p.m. Bus cost includes trans-
portation and refreshments. For
more information call 354-4162.
The Royal
Comedy Tour
Comedians Sommore, Bruce
Bruce, DL Hughley and others will
be in concert on Friday, February
11th at the Jacksonville Veterans
Memorial Arena. Tickets are on sale
now through Ticketmaster.

JABJ Meeting
The Jacksonville Association of
Black Journalist has scheduled their
first meeting of 2011 for 10:00 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m., Saturday, February
12th at a location to be determined.
Up for discussion will be a variety
of items including JABJ's partici-
pation in an upcoming jointly spon-
sored mayoral candidates' debate
scheduled for February 28.For more
information call 607-0660.

Kingsley Heritage
Celebration
The 13th Annual Kingsley
Heritage Celebration will be held
on February 19th and 26th featur-
ing a series of events free to the
public. The annual celebration
explores the cultural traditions
found in modem American society,
which originated during the planta-
tion period. The lineup includes his-
torian Rodney Hurst, Auntie Roz
and the Afro-Caribbean Dance
Theatre and a master storyteller.
The plantation is located off

Heckscher Drive/A1A, Call 251-
3537 for more detailed information.

Legends of
Hip Hop Tour
Legends of the 80s hip hop scenes
will be in Jacksonville for one night
only for the Legends of Hip Hop
tour. At the Veterans Memorial
Arena will be Salt-N-Pepa, Dougie
Fresh, M.C. Lyte, Whodini, Kurtis
Blow, and more. The concert will
be on Friday, February 25th at 8
p.m. For tickets call 1-800-745-
3000.

Stageplay "What my
husband doesn't know"
David E. Talberts hit urban stage-
play "What My Husband Doesn't
Know" will be at the Florida
Theatre on Saturday, February
26th for two shows at 3 p.m. and 7
p.m. For tickets call 355-2787.

Diana Ross in concert
Music icon Diana Ross will be in
Jacksonville for her "More Today
Then Yesterday" greatest hits tour.
It will be held on Friday, March 4,
2011 at 8 p.m. in the Times-Union
Center Moran Theater. Tickets start
at $58. Call ticketmaster for tickets.

Harlem Globetrotters
The world famous Harlem
Globetrotters will be doing an expe-
dition game in Jacksonville on at 7
p.m. on March 11th. It will be held
in the Veterans Memorial Arena.
For tickets or more information,
contact Ticketmaster.

Jacksonville Blues
Festival
The Jacksonville Blues Festival
featuring Mel Waiters, Sir Charles
Jones and more will take place on
Friday, March 11th at the Times
Union Center. Contact Ticketmaster
for tickets and showtimes.

Commemorate your special event with
professional affordable photos by the Picture Lady!

Call 874-0591

to reserve your day!

SubmH Your News and Coming Events
News deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. by the week you would
like your information to be printed. Information can be sent
via email, fax, brought into our office, e-mailed or mailed
in. Please be sure to include the 5W's who, what, when,
where, why and you must include a contact number.
Email JFreePress@aol.com Fax (904) 765-3803
Mail: Coming Events Jacksonville Free Press
903 W. Edgewood Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32208

PlanMiiung YoMur

r I, I
WITHOUT YO MISSSO UCH
SUSRBETDY O NL 3

Page 8 Ms. Perry's Free Press

January 20-26, 2011,

January 20-26, 2011

Stars align to celebrate greatness at 2011 'BET Honors'

"All of my moments are black
history moments," the always stoic
Cicely Tyson said during the fourth
annual 'BET Honors,' which were
held at Washington, D.C.'s Warner
Theater on Jan. 15. "Every single
one of them," the legendary actress
furthered. "There are no moments
in my life that are not significant
because it's all part of my history."
Tyson, with best pal, fashion
designer B. Michael in tow, walked
the red carpet in all of her diva
grandeur. The three-time Emmy
Award-winning star of films such as
'Roots,' 'Tyler Perry's Diary of a
Mad Black Woman' and 'The
Autobiography of Miss Jane
Pittman' said she was most excited
about seeing her students from her
East Orange, New Jersey
Performing Arts School perform

Pastor Siretta Williams celebrates Big 50
ESSque productions held a 50th dual evening of elegance birthday cele-
bration honoring Pastor Siretta Williams. The two day celebration began
with a night of social fun on Friday and on Saturday "A Black & White
Ball (a red carpet affair). Participants played cards, played games and
socialized at the events which were both held at the Joseph Lee
Community Center.

alongside gospel superstar Yolanda
Adams.
A few handfuls of celebrity nota-
bles and bold-faced names came
out to pay homage to Tyson (who
was honored with the theatrical arts
award: Actor, musician and come-
dian Jamie Foxx; fashion icon
Iman; Johnson Publishing Co.
heiress Linda Johnson Rice; world-
renowned musician and composer
Herbie Hancock; revered historian
and educator Lonnie G. Bunch; as a
well-heeled crowd packed the gild-
ed auditorium.
Hosted by actress Gabrielle
Union, who -- in a nod to Diana
Ross during her 'American Music
Awards' hosting duties in the 1980s
- changed into numerous dazzling
get-ups throughout the evening, the
show featured performances and

Honored for entertainment, Jamie rocked an alternative tie and
posed with the amazing Cicely dressed in a trendy black dress. She
was the Theatrical Arts Honoree. BET's own Debra Lee was sparkling
in silver and Reverend Al was polished in a three-piece.

presentations by Tyler Perry, Anika
Noni Rose, B. Smith, Hill Harper,
Cedric the Entertainer, Jimmy Jam,
Ne-Yo, Lalah Hathaway Yolanda
Adams, Keyshia Cole, Guy, Tank,
Angelique Kidjo, Naturally 7,
Rachel Roy, Chick Corea Quartet,
Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari
Parker, among others.
Former Floetry frontwoman
Marsha Ambrosius, in what
appeared to be half of her former
plus-size self, was one of the
evening's biggest highlights: BET
chieftain Debra Lee introduced the
Bristish soul vocalist, who did a
one-woman tribute to the late, great
"soul sister" Teena Marie. No one -
aside from Lauryn Hill (in her
Fugees heyday) should dare touch
the blue-eyed soul powerhouse's
storied repertoire, but Ambrosius'
take on her signature 'Portuguese
Love' did Marie's legacy justice.
For the legendary supermodel
Iman, she said the honor was one of
the "the highest" she's received over
her 30-year career. "It's nothing
higher than something bestowed
upon you from your own communi-
ty," the Somalian beauty who

turned heads on the red carpet with
her daughter Zulekha Haywood --
told us. "And to top it all off, it's for
the charity work I am beyond
touched."

rw^-
; ~ r .-

.7 .

BET's Service Honoree, Iman,
is shown above complemented by
her daughter, Zulekha Haywood,
who was just as lovely in a navy
evening dress.
The show will premiere Feb. 21
at 9 p.m.

Smiley convenes dialogue on America's future

Public Broadcasting Service per-
sonality Tavis Smiley is on a mis-
sion to help America hold on to its
legacy as a global leader.
After suffering through two cost-
ly wars, a faltering economy, failing
public education, and continued job
losses, Americans are worried
about the country's ability to hold
on to its greatness, according to
Smiley.
To zero in on these and other
problems, Smiley recently brought
his nationally-televised town hall
meeting format to the nation's capi-
tal with a group of multi-cultural,
multi-ethnic, and multi-racial pan-
elists to ponder America's future.
The conversation, which was
held at George Washington
University, was broadcast by C-
SPAN on several occasions. The
event followed Smiley's lauded
series of "State of the Black Union"
presentations.
Prior to the event, Smiley told the
AFRO that the dialogue-which
brought together Democrats and
Republicans-was about efforts to
put the country back on the right
track.

Citing a recent poll in which
more than half of the Americans
interviewed said they felt America's
better days are behind it, Smiley
said, "it's all just unacceptable."
Smiley added that, as far as he
knows there are no Black people
who are better off today than they
were two years ago, and said

President Obama's stimulus pack-
age should have been much larger.
"When he controlled the House
and the Senate, he didn't get a big-
ger package and he should have
fought for that," Smiley said of the
president. However, stimulus fund-
ing from Washington has mostly
been dished out to states when it

should have gone straight to the
cities to help alleviate poverty-in
urban communities, according to
Smiley.
As for the state of BlackAmerica,
Smiley said. "This is our last
chance to get it right...and if we
can't count on Barack Obama to
help us get it, we're in trouble."

Pa e 9 Ms Perrv's Free P s

Time for bye bye NeNe?
Is 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star
SNeNe Leakes planning to leave the hit
.Bravo reality show?
According to her recent interview with
Zap2it.com, the 42-year-old reality TV
star is uncertain about her future with

S"I'm not really interested in joining the
Next season," Leakes confessed. "I'm
S. just not really interested right now."
Leakes went on to tell the Web portal
that she wants to "focus on being an
Independent woman."
The married mother of two said she's
developing a shoe line, working on a handbag line, appearing on her
local Atlanta entertainment segments and has plans to go behind the
scenes producing radio and TV shows.
In 2009, there was buzz the both Leakes and co-star Kim Zolciak
could be leaving the show due to contract negotiations.
Attorney Phaedra Parks and model Cynthia Bailey were ultimately
added to season three, joining Leakes, Zolciak, Kandi Burruss and
Sheree Whitfield.
Season three of'Real Housewives of Atlanta' will wrap on Jan. 23.
The two-part cast reunion will air on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6.
Leakes will be among the contestants on season four of Donald
Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice,' beginning in March.

Former 2 Live Crew front man and now high
school football coach, Luther Campbell is consider-
S ing a run for mayor Miami-Dade County, Florida.
And he says if his constituents elect him, his time in
office will be a reality show.
S If incumbent Carlos Alvarez is recalled in an
,* 1 upcoming vote, Campbell said he'll do it. Via his
blog, he said the reality show would provide long
needed transparency of what's really going on in the
office.
"Cameras are going to capture when some lobbyist comes to see me to
lobby me on some [stuff] they want approved. The cameras are going to
be rolling when a commissioner meets with me when I want to talk about
the things we need to build for this community. The voters are going to
know who is full of [stuff] and who isn't if I am elected mayor."
Although Campbell has not officially announced anything, he's
already getting support, at least in his eyes."With Rick Scott winning the
governor's seat," he mentioned, "I don't see how I could lose."
Aretha gets her wish: Halle set to play her in biopic
Oscar winner Halle Berry has reportedly been confirmed to star as
Aretha Franklin in a biopic about the singer's life.
According to WENN, the
actress will play the Queen
of Soul in her older years.
I T "Halle Berry is me for the
Solder me and a younger
actress has yet to be named,"
Franklin reportedly said.
The 68-year-old legend is
currently recovering from an
unknown ailment in Detroit, and told 'The Wendy Williams Show' she
has previously had offers for films about her life but has turned them
down for not offering enough.
"For the last four years we've been talking about that and I've had a
number of offers but unfortunately they were not good offers," she said.
Currently, Berry, 44, is filming the romantic comedy "New Year's
Eve," the follow-up to "Valentine's Day."
Lawrence Taylor pleads guilty Hall of Fame linebacker
Lawrence Taylor pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges last week,
stemming from a May 6 arrest for felony statutory rape. He will receive
no jail time and is expected to be sentenced to six years probation.
Taylor pled guilty to soliciting a prostitute and sexual misconduct in
having relations with a woman without consent. Since the victim in the
case was 16, by law she was not old enough to give consent.
Taylor admitted that he had relations with a 16-year-old and he said
that he was aware that results of a DNA test identified him.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia (hidden behind
other parishioners) sing during church services at Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Washington, D.C., Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011.
King's message of peace celebrated around the country

continued from front
"If Dr. King could speak to us
today, he would tell us that it does
not matter how much we disap-
prove of another person's point of
view, there is never a reason to deny
another human being the respect he
or she deserves," Lewis said.
The Rev. Raphael Warnock, pastor
of Ebenezer, called for members of
Congress to show solidarity during
the State of the Union Address this
month. Quoting the Bible and
Abraham Lincoln, Warnock said,
"A house divided against itself can-
not stand."
"Maybe after Arizona what our
children need to see is us sitting
together," Warnock said.
In Philadelphia, hundreds of volun-
teers including Mayor Michael
Nutter helped refurbish computers
for needy residents as part of the
city's "day of service" events to
mark the King holiday.
"The computer is your passport,
not only to the future but to know-
ing what's going around you,"
Nutter said. The effort was part of
the $25 million federally funded
Freedom Rings Partnership, which
aims to deliver 5,000 computers
over the next few years to people in
the city, where 41 percent of resi-
dents lack Internet access.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, from left, Rev Bernice King, Martin Luther
King III, daughter and son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Christine King
Farris, sister of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., US Attorney General Eric Holder,
and Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., sing 'We Shall Overcome' during a service
at Ebenezer Baptist Church honoring the 25th federal observance of Martin
Luther King Jr.' Day Monday, Jan. 17, 2011 in Atlanta.

Coloradans marked the day with
marches and parades in Denver and
Greeley, and the National Western
Stock Show was set to host its
annual Martin Luther King Jr.
African-American Heritage Rodeo
on Monday evening.
In South Carolina, the day was an
opportunity for the NAACP to
underscore its opposition to a
Confederate flag that flies outside
the Statehouse. It was moved from
atop the Capitol dome in 2000 after
protests by the group.
"Take down that flag," North

Carolina NAACP president, the
Rev. William Barber, told the audi-
ence at a rally in Columbia. He
argued the flag's presence disre-
spects people not only in South
Carolina but across the nation.
In Maine, Gov. Paul LePage
changed plans and attended a King
memorial breakfast just days after
saying critics could "kiss my butt."
King is the only American who was
not a U.S. president to have a feder-
al holiday named in his honor. He
has been recognized on the third
Monday in January since 1986.

There are over 900 Martin Luther
King Boulevards across the coun-
try. The images and the communi-
ties that surround them vary from
city to city. But in most, it is the
dividing line between a booming
Downtown and an underdeveloped
black community.
"What we see here is really the
antithesis of what Martin Luther
King stood for and wanted. That is
integration, self-development, and
self-determination. You see a strat-
ification with with wealth on one
side and poverty on the other side,"
said sociologist Charles Simmons.

NYC Undergroun
New York Tribune editor Horace
Greeley, a runaway slave, Abigail
Hopper, William Lloyd Garrison all
graced these floors. Windows were
broken; valuables raided and fires
set here during the Draft
Riots in 1863. History was
made at 339 West 29th
street in Chelsea but no
one knew until just recently,
when historian Fern Luskin
found a letter proving this
now shrouded row house to
be the only known surviving
Manhattan stop on the
Underground Railroad.
The drama that you learned I
in history class -- Harriet
Tubman and other slaves
risking their lives for a
chance at freedom -- literal-
ly happened in this home.
This home which now could be get-
ting a makeover with a brand new
5th story to tower above the rest on
the block.

Etta James diagnosed with dementia
RIVERSIDE, California A Southern California judge has ruled that Etta
James' husband may use $60,000 of the ailing R&B singer's savings to pay
for her medical care Riverside County Superior Court Judge Thomas
Cahraman said at a hearing last week that the money should last until Feb.
24, when Artis Mills is expected back in court to continue seeking control
of more than $1 million of James' money.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise says Mills is challenging the legitimacy
of a claim by James' son, Donto James, that his mother gave him power of
attorney in 2008.
Court documents show the 72-year-old singer of "At Last" and other stan-
dards lives in the Woodcrest area of Riverside County, has been diagnosed
with dementia and is undergoing treatment for leukemia.

d Railroad stop in co
It is like taking a slice of our
important history and lopping it off
for with a serrated knife that's how
I see it," cried Luskin. Her fellow
historian, Julie Finch agrees saying,

"this block is a testimony to what
everybody in the city went through
during the Draft Riots."
Luskin and Finch have been head-

instruction dispute
ing up the fight to stop work on
what is known as the Hopper-
Gibbons home, named after its two
prominent abolitionist former own-
ers Abigail Hopper and Isaac
Gibbons.
Luskin even calls the
Gibbonses "the Schindlers of
their day."
After initially approving the
plans in '05, the Department of
Buildings issued a removal
order for the 5th story in '09;
now the DOB says current con-
struction is to bring space up to
fire safety codes. But for
Luskin and Finch, nothing will
be safe until this piece of cher-
ished history is out of danger.
"It serves as a memorial to all
of those blacks that were killed
lynched and tortured." argues
Finch.
The DOB ordered the addition
removed by last month. The owner,
has yet to appeal the tear down.